Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



Patented Aug. 20, |9m.'--

F. c. *cuTTma. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 3, 1900.)

. 3 tures hereinafter described, and particularly minal containing my improvements.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK o. CUTTING, on ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, Assrenon TO LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK,

NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC-DES PATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

srncrrrcnrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,042, dated August 20, 1901.

i i Application filed December 3, 1900. Serial No. 38,595. (No model.)

To aZZ whom-it mayc'oaemr; i

Be it known that LFREDERIGKQ. Cur- TING, of Rochester, in the countyof Monroe and State of NewYo'rk, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to improvements in pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus wherein carriers are despatohed througha tube in one direction by vacuum and in the opposite, di-

rection by pressure through the same tube.

Incarrying out my invention I have provided mechanism for connecting the transmission-tube with either the vacuum side of the blower'or the pressure side of the blower,

so that carriers maybe transmitted through one and the same tube in opposite directions by pressure or vacuum,

My invention relates to certain novel feapointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ter- Fig. 2 is a sideview, partly in section, of the terminal shown in Fig. 1. e

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout both views.

The tube A at its upper endis in communication with the transmission-tube O through the box 13 and at itslower end is in communication through the switching-tube E in the switch-box D with either the suc tion-tube F, leading to the vacuum side of the blower, when acarrier is being transmitted fromthe opposite terminal by vacuum,

or with the tube G, leading to the pressure side of the blower, when the carrier is being driven by pressure in its rear from the terminals shown in the drawings to an open terminal at the opposite end of the line. Extending upwardly from the upper end of the transmission-tube O is a delivery-chute H,

0 is closed by the cover J, carried by the arm K and pivoted at K, and extending down from said arm K is a depending finger L,

hereinafter described.

When a carrier is to be sent from the terminal shown in the drawings, it is dropped .into the top of the tube 0 and the cover J closed and is held in the top of the tube 0 and box B by the suction up through the transmission-tube 0, box B, tube A, switchtube E, and suction-tube F. Then the operator pulls the handleL fast on the shaft L to the left, which swings the lower arm L of the handle toward the right, and this 1novement of the arm L operates the rod M, pivotally secured thereto and to the link M, which is pivotally secured to the switchingtube E, and said movement of the arm L through the rod M and link M moves the switching-tube E from the position shown in Fig. 1 over into alinement with the pressuretube G, and the pressure passing through said tube G from the pressure side of the blower passes up through the tube A, across the box B, and into the transmission-tube C and directs the carrier to the opposite end of the line. At the timethe handle L is moved toward the left swings up and engages the depending finger L and holds the cover J closed, so that the pressure which is described as entering the tube 0 cannot open the cover J, but must pass down through the transmission tube 0. At the same time the handle L is moved to the left it moves the arm N, fast on the shaft L downwardly toward the right, and the springlatch N on the lower end thereof engages with the pivoted catch Nflcarried on the lower end of the depending support Niand engages with the lug N on said pivoted catch N When this is taking place, the pressure passing up through the tube G, switch-tube E, tube A, and boxB enters the tube 0 and from the tube 0 into the pipe 0 and into the diaphragm-chamber C and the diaphragm raises the catch 0 so thatits forward end 04 engageswith the lower end of the catch N The parts are held in the position previously described by the back pressure behind the carrier, and as soon as the carrier is at the opposite end of the line this back pressure is relieved and the diaphragm falls and causes Ice the parts to be released from the position to V which they have been moved. The spring on the shaft L then acts and returns the handle L, arm L and. arm N to the position shown in Fig. 1. At the same time the lug P on the arm L moves down the spring-catch L and releases the cover. This automatic movement of the parts shifts the tube E into alinement with the suction-tube F, so that theparts are all in the position shown in Fig. l, and this automatic shifting of the tube E is assisted by the spring 0 on the shaft 0 A carrier coming from the opposite end of the line by vacuum passes up through the transmission-tube G and strikes the cover, which raises and allows the discharge of the carrier through the delivery-chute H, and the cover then closes by gravity.

The catch 0 is fixed fast on the shaft Q, journaled in two lugs Q, and on the end of said shaft beyond thelugs is a spring R, which assists in holding the depending catch N When the back pressure ceases and the catch (3 drops, the latch N moves toward the left and, is released from the catch N by swinging it toward the right, so that the catch N passes freely away from the catch N By the construction above described I have provided a pneumatic-despatch-tube system in which carriers are despatched in one direc V tion by vacuum and in the opposite direction by pressure through the same tube. 7

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and

mission tube for holding in position the mechanism which establishes communication between the compressed-air tube and theswitching-tube, a device for locking said valve during the transmission of the carrier transmission-tube.

2. In a pneumatic-despatchtube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a suction-tube normally in communication with said transmission-tube, a valve for closing the open end of the transmission-tube, a compressed-air tube, mechanismfor establishing communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube, a device for locking said Valve during the transmission of the carrier, mechanism actuated by pressure in the transmission-tube for holding in position the matic means for breaking the communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube and for establishing communication between the suction tube and the transmission-tube.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a suction-tube normally in communication with said transmission-tube, a valve normally closing the open end of said transmission-tube, a compressed air tube, a switching-tube for establishing communication between the transmission- -tube and the compressed-air tube or the suction tube, mechanism for operating said switchingtube, a device for locking said valve during the transmission of the carrier by compressed air, and mechanism actuated by pressure in the transmission-tube for holding in position the mechanism which establishes communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a suction-tube normally in communication with said transmission-tube, a valve normally closing the open end of said transmission-tube, a compressedair tube, a switching-tube for establishing communication between the transmission- .tube and the compressed-air tube or the suc- .mally in communication with said transmis= sion-tube, a valve normallyclosing the open end of said transmission-tube, a compressed air tube, a switching-tube for establishing communication between the transmissiontube and the compressed-air tube or the suction tube, mechanism for operating said ;mally in communication with said transmission-tube, a valve for closing the open end of the transmission-tube,- a compressed-air tube,

a device for locking said valve during the transmission of the carrier by compressed air,

mechanism for holding in position the mechanism which establishes communication between the compressed-airtube and the transmission-tube while the carrier is in transit,

and automatic means for breaking communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube and for establishing communication between the suction-tube and the transmission-tube.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a suction-tube normally in communication with said transmission-tube, a valve for closing the open end of the transmission tube, a compressed-air tube,

a device for locking said valve during the transmission of the carrier by compressed air, mechanism for holding in position the mechanism which establishes communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube while the carrier is in transit,

and means for breaking communication between the suction-tube and the transmissiontube and for establishing communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube.

9. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, a transmission-tube, a suction-tube normally in communication with said transmission-tube, a valve for closing the open end of the transmission-tube, a compressed-air tube, a device for locking said valve during the transmission of the carrier by compressed air, mechanism for holding in position the mechanism which establishes communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube while the carrier is in transit, automatic means for breaking communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmission-tube and for establishing communication between the suction-tube and the transmission-tube, and manually-operated means for breaking communication between the suction-tube and the transmission-tube and for establishing communication between the compressed-air tube and the transmissiontube.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 21st day of November, A. D. 1900.

FREDK. C. CUTTING;

Witnesses:

WM. H. BURTIS, LYDIA LUEHM. 

